China to expand subsistence allowance system to all rural poor

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-05-2007 10:11

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government will expand the subsistence allowance system to all rural poor, Premier Wen Jiabao announced at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC) here on Monday.

The move is expected to bring a poverty-stricken population of 23.7 million under the social security net.

"We will set up a nationwide basic minimum cost of living allowance system this year for rural residents, which has great and far-reaching significance for promoting social fairness and building a harmonious society," Wen told 2,890 NPC deputies assembled at the Great Hall of the People.

NPC deputy Fu Qiping, a village head from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, said the government's decision to cover all the rural poor under the social security net represents a "big step in poverty alleviation for the vast rural population."

About 23.65 million rural residents living in "abject poverty" in China by the end of 2006 with an annual per capita income less than 683 yuan (87.6 U.S. dollars), according to statistics of the State Council Leading Group of Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Editor:Liu Fang